How did they balance both?
Jake had no idea.
Lucy walked for over an hour, processing the fight with Jake.
He'd seemed unsupportive, worried about the franchising opportunity pulling her away. Like he wanted her to stay small, stay local, stay in Timber Falls forever.
But was that fair? Jake had supported her through Paris, through opening Margaret's, through every step of her career. Was it really unreasonable for him to worry about franchising pulling her away?
Lucy ended up at the restaurant. It was closed—they were dark on Mondays—but she had keys.
She sat in the empty dining room, looking around at what she'd built. This was hers. Her vision, her hard work, her dream realized.
And now she had the opportunity to make it bigger. To bring Margaret's to more people, to build something that lasted beyond just one location.
But at what cost?
Her phone buzzed. Uncle Walter.
Uncle Walter:Heard you and Jake had a disagreement. Want to talk?
Lucy:How do you know about that already?
Uncle Walter:Small town. Marcus texted Rei who texted me. Come over?
Lucy drove to Uncle Walter's new condo. He had tea waiting.
"Tell me what happened," Uncle Walter said.
So Lucy did. The franchising offer, Jake's concerns, their fight.
"He thinks I'm choosing my career over him. Again."
"Are you?"
"No! I'm just—I'm pursuing an opportunity. How is that choosing my career over him?"
"Because the opportunity requires sacrifice. Time away, attention divided, energy spent elsewhere. And Jake's worried that those sacrifices will come at the expense of your relationship."
"But I can do both. I can expand Margaret's and maintain our relationship."
"Can you, though? Lucy, I've watched you work. When you commit to something, you commit fully. You don't do anything halfway. Which is admirable, but it also means you don't have balance. You consume yourself with work."
"I'm working on that."
"Are you? Because from where I'm sitting, you're already working sixteen-hour days. Adding three more restaurants—even with delegation—that's going to require even more time, more energy, more focus."
"So what, I'm supposed to turn down this opportunity? Stay small? Never grow?"
"I'm not saying that. I'm saying you need to be honest about what you're taking on. And honest with Jake about what it means for your relationship."
Lucy was quiet. "What if I can't do both? What if I have to choose between expanding my career and keeping my relationship?"
"Then you choose. But Lucy—make sure you choose consciously. Not by default, not by letting ambition override everything else. Really choose."
Lucy drove back to the apartment. Jake was still awake, sitting on the couch looking miserable.
"I'm sorry," they both said at the same time.
